When the parents of a young man decided it was time for him to marry, they called together the tiachcaoan, elder brothers, the men who kept order in the telpochcalli, the young men's houses. Then the parents said: "You are present here, you who are our sons, who are youths, who have labored, who have worked. This youth will disquiet you, for he wishes to withdraw; he wishes to enter the company of women. Truly, here are the young men's axes, in order that he be separated; this is the judgement of the Mexica." And the elder brothers took the axes--described as cutters of wood, splitters of wood--and left with them.